Lakeside father’s manslaughter trial on hold for psychological report

STEVE BRUCE COURT REPORTERPublished June 9, 2014 - 3:59pm

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SEPT 23, 2011- MICHAEL DOCKRILL ARRAIGNED ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE- Michael Paul Dockrill is escorted into court in September 2011. Dockrill, 55, of Lakeside, is charged with manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of his son three years ago. (TED PRITCHARD / Staff / File)

A Halifax County man’s trial on charges of accidentally shooting his son to death in 2011 did not begin Monday as scheduled.

The jury trial was set for three weeks in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax, but Justice Gerald Moir granted a defence request for an adjournment.

Defence lawyer Brian Church told the court his client is meeting with Dr. Brad Kelln, a forensic psychologist. Depending on the contents of Kelln’s report, the Crown may wish to retain its own expert, Church said.

Lawyers will return to court Sept. 11 to set new trial dates for early 2015.

Crown attorney Rick Woodburn said he is confident that if lawyers can agree on certain facts, the trial can be shortened to about two weeks.

Police responded to a report of a break-in at Dockrill’s house on St. Margarets Bay Road on June 12, 2011. Officers found Jason Dockrill, 20, dead from a gunshot wound.

Two masked men had apparently broken into the home and struggled with the young man. Michael Dockrill allegedly fired a Winchester rifle at the intruders but hit his son instead.